years of testing. Two counties, Barnstable and Middlesex, had no reactors 

 among the birds tested. The latter county had 57,753 birds tested. Less 

 than 0.80 percent of the birds tested in any county were found to be positive. 

 Eight counties showed an increase in testing over the 1934-35 season, while 

 three (Bristol, Hampshire, and Plymouth) showed a decrease. 



One breed (White Plymouth Rocks), represented by 12,050 birds, revealed 

 no reactors. This same breed showed no reactors in 1934-35. 



Of the total number of samples tested, 313,333 were from females and 

 30,748 from males. Of these, 0.31 and 0.17 percent, respectively, were positive. 



Annual Testing Effective in Eradication 



Table 2 shows that 252 flocks, representing 329,659 birds, were tested. In 

 the 43 flocks tested for the first time and representing 21,119 birds and 21,892 

 tests, the percentage of positive tests was 2.55, which is a slight increase over 

 the corresponding percentage (2.17) for the 1934-35 season. In this group 31 

 flocks were classified as non-reacting, but of these 10 were only partially tested. 

 The results for this group of flocks appear quite similar to those of the previous 

 season, indicating possibly that, as additional new flocks are tested, heavy- 

 infection may not be anticipated. This can be attributed largely to the fact 

 that more and more poultrymen are seeking puUorum-disease-clean stock. 



In the flocks tested intermittently and those tested for two consecutive 

 years, increases are observed in the number of tested flocks, birds, and tests. 

 It is encouraging to note that in both groups the percentage of positive tests 

 is less than for the previous season, while the number of non-reacting flocks 

 is greater. 



The most interesting group is the one made up of flocks tested for three or 

 more consecutive years and consists of 151 flocks, representing 263,400 birds 

 and 271,410 tests. Only 0.10 percent of the tests were positive, which is the 

 lowest percentage attained during the 16-year testing period. The number of 

 birds in flocks tested for three or more consecutive years represents 79.9 per- 

 cent of the total birds tested. Furthermore, 148 flocks were classified as non- 

 reacting while only 3 were positive. It is very apparent that annual testing 

 of all the birds on the premises has been effective in establishing and main- 

 taining pullorum-disease-clean flocks. 



Table 2. Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



